EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Freshman Sofiya Chekhlystova clinched the match at No. 2 singles as Penn State held on for a 4-3 win at Rutgers Saturday afternoon to earn the Nittany Lions' first win over the Scarlet Knights since 2016.
Penn State improves to 3-1 overall and 2-1 in official Big Ten play, while Rutgers drops to 0-3 overall and in conference action.
Doubles
Penn State won the doubles point as Gabby O'Gorman and Alexandra Nielsen made quick work of Rutgers' duo at No. 1 doubles, earning a 6-0 victory. Frederikke Svarre and Sofiya Chekhlystova then clinched the point as the pair battled for a 7-5 win at No. 2 doubles.
Samantha Smith and Karly Friedland were knotted up at 6-6 in their unfinished doubles match.
Singles
Smith grabbed Penn State's first singles win with a straight-set 6-4, 6-1 victory over Rutgers' Jaci Cochrane at No. 6 singles to give Penn State a 2-0 match lead. Smith is now tied with Jenny Shular (68) for second on Penn State's all-time singles wins list.
O'Gorman made it 3-0 Penn State as she battled back for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over Rutgers' Maya Jacobs at No. 1 singles.
The Scarlet Knights clawed back to even the match at 3-3 with wins at No. 3, No. 4, and No. 5 singles. The match came down the rookie Chekhlystova at No. 2 singles. The Estonia native beat Rutgers' Tess Fisher 6-2 in the first set before dropping a tight tiebreaker battle in the second set. But Chekhlystova fought for the 6-4 win in the third set to clinch the 4-3 victory for Penn State.
Penn State 4, Rutgers 3
Doubles
1. Gabby O'Gorman/Alexandra Nielsen (PSU) def. Maya Jacobs/Kristiana Zahare (RU) 6-0
2. Frederikke Svarre/Sofiya Chekhlystova (PSU) def. Tess Fisher/Alisa Prinyarux (RU) 7-5
3. Chloe Brown/Jaci Cochrane (RU) vs. Samantha Smith/Karly Friedland (PSU) 6-6, unfinished
Order of Finish: 1, 2
Singles
1. Gabby O'Gorman (PSU) def. Maya Jacobs (RU) 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
2. Sofiya Chekhlystova (PSU) def. Tess Fisher (RU) 6-2, 6-7 (0-4), 6-4
3. Sydney Kaplan (RU) def. Frederikke Svarre (PSU) 2-6, 7-5, 6-4
4. Alisa Prinyarux (RU) def. Karly Friedland (PSU) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
5. Chloe Brown (RU) def. Alexandra Nielsen (PSU) 1-6, 7-6 (2-0), 7-6 (5-0)
6. Samantha Smith (PSU) def. Jaci Cochrane (RU) 6-4, 6-1
Order of Finish: 6, 1, 3, 4, 5, 2
Up Next
Penn State remains on the road to face Maryland Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
